We Asked 5 Pro Travelers How They Keep Their Luggage Clean, and Here’s What They Said
As a food and travel writer, I’m packing my bags and heading on the road a few times a month. No matter the destination or length of the trip, I’m carrying luggage with me every time.
That luggage will be packed and unpacked, and travel between rideshares, airplane overheads, and hotels — picking up all sorts of dirt and grime in the process. Keeping it clean and sanitary is a huge part of the travel process for me, as it is for all of my professional traveler friends.
I spoke to a handful of travel writers and got their top tips for keeping luggage clean while traveling. They had some surprisingly inventive answers!
Magic Eraser
Magic Erasers are a staple when tidying up around my apartment. However, some of my best friends in the travel writing world are using it for a whole other reason I never had considered — keeping their luggage clean and tidy!
“With patience and some serious elbow grease, a Magic Eraser can work wonders to help minimize the black scuff marks that appear all over the outside of your luggage,” says Jill Schildhouse, a Phoenix-based travel writer. She shares that the best time to use it is when you’re back home, unpacking your bag. “You’ll never stop and take the time to do it when you’re stress-packing for your next trip.”
Travel and food journalist Amber Love Bond agrees with this method. “I’m such a stickler when it comes to keeping my luggage clean, because germs, but also dirty luggage really kills my travel aesthetic,” she says. For that reason, Bond will always keep a Magic Eraser in her luggage, noting that it works well to keep off any scuffs or dirt.
Soap and Water
In addition to the go-to Magic Eraser, Bond will also use hot water and hand soap the moment she arrives at a hotel to wipe down the entire surface of her luggage with a washcloth. “I’m known to do this in airport bathrooms too if it gets particularly dirty on a long travel day!” she says. And once she returns home, she will repeat this process. “I give it a good scrub with hot water and soap again, and then I use disinfectant wipes to get rid of anything else that might be lingering.”
Toothbrush
Another great tip is to keep those amenity toothbrushes from airplane kits or hotels to get out tough marks. “I use them on my shoes too (which also go through the same process as my luggage since I’m a big fan of white sneakers and must keep them clean at all times!),” says Bond.
Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting wipes, like Lysol wipes, are great for keeping things clean and disinfected while on a work trip. Emily Cappiello, a spirits, food, and travel journalist, swears by it. Carolin Pilligrath, a travel expert and content creator, likes to keep a small pack of disinfecting wipes handy to quickly clean high-touch areas like handles and zippers throughout a trip.
Packing Cubes
Many travel writers swear by packing cubes to stay organized when traveling. But aside from making the most of our luggage space, it’s also a great way to keep things tidy. “They’re not just great for organization — they also help keep clean and dirty clothes separate, which is a game-changer for maintaining cleanliness inside your luggage,” says Pilligrath.
A Few Extra Bags
Whether packing some zip-top bags or reusable bags, having a few extra bags in luggage can be a really useful hack for keeping dirty or messy items separate from everything else. “I also recommend packing potentially messy items like shoes, toiletries, and dirty clothes in plastic bags. This contains any leaks or spills from spreading gunk in transit. It keeps the rest of your stuff clean,” says Jackson Groves, a professional adventure photographer and travel expert.